Automatic mail-crane.



IVI. DE L. HUSTON.

AUTOMATIC MAIL CRANE,

APPLlcATloN FlLED SEPT. I8, 1917.

Patented Feb. 5, 1918.

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AUTOMATIC MAIL CRANE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I8. 1917. Lz., Y Pamme Feb. 5, 1918.

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@wi/hmmm @WMM w y f MARCUS DE LAFAYETTE I-IUSTON, 0F HEMLOCK,

INDIANA, ASSIGNOB OF UNE-HALF TO CHARLES G. STEIDLE, OF HEMLOCK, INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC MAIL-CRANE.

To all 'tv/1,0m t may concern.'

Be it known that I, MARCUS DE L. HUS- roN, citizen of the United States, residing at Hemlock, in the county of Howard and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Mail-Cranes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a mail crane and has for one of its objects the provision of a device of this character, which can be readily employed upon a single track system or a double track system.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a supporting post having hinged thereto, bag supporting arms, which may be swung to occupy positions upon either side of the post whereby the device may be employed upon a single track system or a double track system when so desired.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a novel form of spring upon each of the bag supporting arms, which will permitthe bags to be delivered in either direction from the bag supporting arms.

A. still further object of this invention is the provision of an automatic mail crane of the above stated character, which shall be simple, durable and eiicient, and which may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

lVith these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will he hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a mail crane constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same illustrating the mail supporting arms in an inoperative position in dotted lines,

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the device,

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4,-4 of Fig. l,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application :tiled September 18, 1917.

Fatented Feb. 5, 191W.. serial No. 191,993.

Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating the novel form of spring.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a supporting post, which may be embedded or secured within the ground between the tracks of a double railroad system or along the side of a. track of a single railroad system.

Hinges 2 have one of their leaves secured to the post l by fasteners 3, while their' other leaves are secured to the member t for hingedly securing the member 4 to the supporting post l.

Supporting arms 5 are secured to the member l in spaced relation, and have pivoted thereto, bag supporting arms 6, which are pivotally connected at their inner ends by a connecting bar 'i'. Hangers 8 are pivoted to the ends of the bag supporting arms 6 as at 9 and are notched to receive the rings 10 of a mail bag 1l.

A spring 12 is secured to each of the bag supporting arms 6 and each is constructed from a single length of resilient material, which is bent upon itself to form a loop 13 that receives a fastener 14 upon the bag supporting arms, while its free ends intercross each other and diverge outwardly and engage upon each side of the members 8 to cause said members normally to extend parallel with the bag supporting arms 6, and which will permit said members 8 to swing upon their pivots in either direction in relation to the arms 6.

A balancing weight 15 is slidable upon the lower bag supporting arm 6 and may be held in any adjusted position thereon7 by a set screw 16, whereby the arms 6 may be balanced.

A supporting brace 17 is pivoted to the arms 5 and to an eye bolt 18 secured to the supporting post 1.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be noted that a novel form of mail crane has been provided, which may be readily and conveniently employed upon a single track system or a 'double track system by swinging the bag supporting arms 6 to occupy a position upon either side of the supporting post l.

iVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in arms and engaging upon eaeb side of t'be members to hold said members parallel with said arms and for permittingsaid members to move with relation to the arms when re- ]easing a mail bag.

In testimony whereof I aix signature in presence of two Witnesses.

. MARCUS DE LAFAYETTE HUSTON.

/Vitnesses:

D. B. MCKAY., C.` Gr. STEIDLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

